Given the high stakes in this year's election, adding Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson to the presidential debates is too much of a risk, writes Walter Shapiro. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Friday that the Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson failed to qualify for the first debate on Sept. 26 because his polling numbers were below the 15-percent threshold. According to the five polls used by the commission, Johnson averaged 8.4 percent support.

What this means is that Johnson becomes the most popular presidential contender in modern history not to have his own lectern on the debate stage.

Libertarians are struggling to get former Gov. Gary Johnson's name on the ballot in Ohio because the Libertarian Party is not recognized in the battleground state.

The challenge also comes from the party attempting a name-swapping effort where Charlie Earl, who ran for governor as a libertarian, will appear on the ballot as a stand-in and Johnson will replace him when the state elections chief clears the petitions filed to get candidates on the ballot.

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson has appealed for support from undecided Republicans by promoting a national sales tax plan that resembles a proposal backed by dozens of conservatives in Congress.

The former two-term governor of New Mexico is touting as a top fiscal priority a plan similar to a national sales tax bill sponsored by Rep. Rob Woodall, R-Ga., with 73 co-sponsors. Johnson made clear in an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Aug. 1 that he hoped his sales tax plan would attract voters and entice endorsements from uncommitted GOP elected officials and donors.

Gary Johnson, the former Republican governor of New Mexico turned Libertarian Party nominee for president, has no qualms about possibly costing either of the major parties the White House this fall.

“I will lose no sleep if that is the label given to me,” Johnson assured those gathered at the National Press Club on Thursday when asked about potentially inheriting the “spoiler” mantle from previous third-party challengers Ross Perot and Ralph Nader.

Opponents and supporters of Donald Trump confront each other outside the Infinity Event Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Trump spoke at a campaign rally in March. (George Frey/Getty Images File Photo)

President Barack Obama fell just short of 25 percent of the vote in Utah in the 2012 presidential election, but Donald Trump can’t take the Beehive State for granted this November.

A June 2-8 poll by SurveyUSA for The Salt Lake Tribune showed Trump and Clinton tied at 35 percent, with Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson at 13 percent. It’s wise to avoid drastic conclusions based on a single poll (and an automated one at that), but there are other reasons for Trump to be concerned.

On Sept. 26, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will face off in Dayton, Ohio, for what's anticipated to be the most-watched presidential debate in history. Republicans need Gary Johnson to be on the stage.

Normally, both parties try to marginalize third-party candidates and keep them from getting publicity in order to prevent them from siphoning off supporters. But some Republicans just can’t vote for Trump (or Clinton) for president, yet vulnerable GOP Members need those voters to turn out for races down the ballot.

Most Americans have never heard of Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson , and very few believe he can capture the White House this fall, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll .

Only 6 percent of those surveyed believe Johnson “could possibly win” a race that likely will pit him against Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton . And 55 percent of respondents say they have never even heard of the former New Mexico GOP governor.

Two days into his official presidential campaign, newly nominated Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is already presenting himself as a potential dark horse candidate in what has been a hugely unpredictable election year.

Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico, said in a CNN interview Tuesday that his campaign would offer "the best of both worlds" between two unusually unpopular rivals . He also promised to campaign hard against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, a vow he sealed by blowing a kiss.